5 Helpful Elopement Tips

Have you ever considered eloping? Have you pictured getting married in an amazing location with just you and your fiancé and maybe your closest family? Here are 5 Helpful Elopement Tips!

Perhaps the idea of planning a big wedding stresses you out and you just don’t want to spend an insane amount of money on a wedding. Whatever your reasons may be, there are tons of couples that decide to elope every year, but would you really know how to go about it? As an elopement photographer who has documented many elopements and helped loads of couples plan their dream day, here are some helpful tips that I have learned along the way!

Keep scrolling to read my helpful elopement tips!

5 Helpful Elopement Tips

1. Don’t Just Run Away

Elopements now carry a much different meaning than they once did. One of the main reasons couples used to elope was to keep their marriage a secret from family, because they didn’t approve. This is not the case in any way today! Elopements are SO much more than just running away or saving money. Let’s get real – traditional weddings are basically putting on a large dinner party for your friends and family. The focus of a traditional wedding is the family verses you – the ones actually getting married!

Elopements are meant to shift the focus from your family to the both of you! They’re about crafting a day around the two of you and allowing you to get married in the way you actually want to. They come down to the type of experience that you want on your wedding day! What I’m getting at is this – don’t just plan a quick ceremony and be done with your elopement day. How terrible would it be to look back at one of the most important days of life and only have memories from 1 hour of your day?! You deserve so much more than that!

You deserve to have a whole day where you celebrate your marriage and just because you’re eloping doesn’t mean you deserve anything less! This is about have an incredible and epic experience that you can look back on and actually want to do all over again!

2. Choose Your Dream Location

There is a vast amount of stunning places in this world for you to elope so be intentional with where you choose to elope! When you start to think about where you want to elope choose a place that has a lot of meaning to you both. This can mean choosing a location you’ve both been to before that you love or choosing a location you’ve both been dying to go to! Nobody wants to look back on their special day and regret where they got married, because you sporadically chose the first place you could think of. The world is your oyster, give it time and consideration!

Pro Tip: Don’t forget to think of the time of year you want to get married, because the climate and weather of that location will be a factor in choosing your date and location!

3. Hire A Photographer + Videographer

Most couples who elope are focused on having a fun adventure with their spouse want their memories to be captured so that they can be treasured forever and to share with friends and family back home. A majority of an elopement budget tends to be spent in this area since there aren’t many other expenses and this is usually the most important thing to those who elope.

When you’re looking for a photographer be sure to pick someone whom you’ll get along well with! They’ll be with you all day during your elopement experience guiding you through your day, so picking a photographer that will elevate your experience is key! This is why it’s super important to hop on a call with any photographer you inquire with so that you’ll get a vibe if you’ll be a good fit for each other. It’s super important to me for the sake of you have an incredible experience on your elopement day which is why I have a video call with all of my potential clients!

4. Remember That Marriage Laws Are Different All Over

This is a super important part of planning an elopement that will take some research! The last thing you want to do is to travel to the other side of the world without the correct documents, or have no clue where to obtain a marriage license. Take note of any cultural laws that might affect your day as well. For example, if you wanted to elope on a Sunday in the gorgeous Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, be sure to buy any champagne or liquor you want to drink the day before since all the liquor stores will be closed on a Sunday.

You could also consider a symbolical ceremony! This means that the ceremony you have on your elopement day will not be legally binding. Couples who go this route will get married legally where they live so the paperwork is out of the way and they don’t have to deal with all the logistics. I recommend this route to anyone who is getting married in country where they don’t live and sometimes even if you’re getting married in another state. The process of getting legally married in a different state is, of course, much easier, but there can still be some hurdles to jump depending on the state. So, do your research to see which will be the best option for you!

5. Keep It Close

If you decide to have guests at your elopement, limit your the number to your absolute nearest and dearest friends and family. Those who have been there for you and supported the two of you throughout your relationship and those who will be there for you through the end of life. However, don’t feel pressured to have your family with you if you feel like a ‘just us’ elopement is right for the two of you!

If you wanted to find a way to include your family somehow without the physically being there or if you want more ideas on how to elope with family be sure to check out this in depth article on How to Elope with Family!

This is your elopement day and it’s the day that the two of you will celebrate for the rest of your lives! You can get married and celebrate however you want. Don’t limit yourself – leave all the logistics behind and create your dream elopement experience! This day is about celebrating you two and doing it how you want.

I hope you enjoyed these 5 Helpful Elopement Tips! If you are recently engaged or starting to plan your elopement I would love to help guide you through planning your dream elopement and be a part of such a special day! You can contact me >HERE< for a free consultation and talk about how you envision your elopement!

Should I Elope?

If you have an adventurous spirit and desire to have an intimate experience on your wedding day then eloping is probably a great choice for you! Eloping is all about having a stress-free, laid back and incredible experience. It is about starting your lives together on an epic adventure and committing your lives together in a place you’ve always dreamed of or in an extremely meaningful place to the both of you. If you are looking for an elopement photographer and for someone who will be by your side and help guide you through planning your dream elopement then I would be so honored to be a part of your special day! You can contact me >HERE< and I cannot wait to talk to you about your elopement!

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[…] can check out my related blog posts: The Ultimate How to Elope Guide 7 Signs You May Want to Elope 5 Helpful Elopement Tips 3 Reasons Eloping is Better Than A Traditional Wedding How to Make Your Elopement Special 5 Tips to […]

I'm so friggin' stoked you landed here! I'm an Adventure Elopement Photographer, but my role is so much more than just an Elopement Photographer.

I DON'T JUST BOOK YOU, SHOW UP, AND SAY BYEEEE!

Getting to know you is extremely important to me so that I create the ultimate elopement experience that's crafted around you. We'll be spending a lot of time together and I want to make sure we'll be a great fit so that your elopement day can be the best it possibly can be.

I'm here to make your life SO much easier and I'm so excited to do so!! I'm here to keep your day and planning process as stress-free as possible. I'm not about stressing out and I especially don't want you losing your mind on your elopement day! I'm here to guide you through every single step.

If you're looking for an adventurous, meaningful and wild experience on your elopement day then let's friggin' do this!!

Hey, I'm Courtney!

Elopement Photographer

Contact me about your elopement!

"Planning for our day and the day itself would have been completely different without Courtney. We only knew that we wanted to share our vows in the Tuscan countryside and have beautiful photos, and Courtney planned the perfect agenda for that to happen. She coordinated our timing around sunset, and not only were the photos breathtaking, but the actual evening was too. I remember looking out over the vineyards as the sun set, the view becoming more and more stunning by the minute. There were no moments that felt forced or posed, every shot was comfortable and fun and full of love.

Courtney is such a sweet, kind, fun person and we truly enjoyed spending the day with her. Courtney helped us to turn our dreams into reality, and we hardly had to do a thing. She allowed us to be in control of our day but gently took all of our wants and needs into consideration while making everything happen. Lastly, our pictures are just magical. Courtney is an incredibly talented photographer, and I feel so lucky that we were able to work with her. I would recommend her over and over again to anyone eloping."

Ellie & Zac

"Let. Me. Tell. You. It's not the technical aspects of photography that are the most difficult. It's the human aspect. Remembering that as a Photographer, you may be behind the lens but you are still a human, in front of other humans, in some of the most raw and intimate of moments. Courtney balances both of these necessities (but rarities) with poise, great direction, and an overall kind calmness that just makes you breathe a sigh of relief. If you've come across Courtney's page and see what you like already, BOOK HER NOW. Don't spend another second looking for another Photographer that doesn't bring anywhere near the amazing light and spirit that this girl brings right here. Thank you again Courtney for allowing my husband and I to marry each other all over again! The images are stunning and I can't wait to blow them up and hang them in our home."

Shannon & Brandon

When my now husband and I started planning our elopement, we were confused to the max. We didn’t know where to start or how to go about planning anything. We knew we wanted to get married in Ireland, but had too many options on exactly where. After doing some research of elopements on the web, I was scrolling on Pinterest and came across some BEAUTIFUL photos taken of an elopement in Ireland. Those moments were captured by, yep you guessed it, Courtney!

Her website and Courtney herself made the process so easy. She is organized, professional, sweet, and so so funny!! Courtney does more than just photograph your day, she cares about you having the BEST day! She helped us plan EVERYTHING! Even down to the little details, like what type of shoes to wear! She helped us narrow down where, giving us her informative opinions on each of our options! She gave us cool ideas that we could incorporate into our special day. No idea was too big! When the day came, we had the absolute best time exploring and getting married! After we exchanged our vows, we went to celebrate at a local pub (Courtney’s idea ;) ). It was a blast!!

Our elopement was an absolute DREAM COME TRUE! I will never be able to thank Courtney enough for making it happen. So for anyone on the fence, swaying back and forth about whether or not work with Courtney on your big day, SWAY NO MORE! You’ve found your person!! My day couldn’t have been any better and my pictures are beautiful and capture the fun we had!!! I can’t wait to work with her again!

Taylor & andrew

"Working with Courtney was an extremely easy experience, seamless, positive and obviously fun. My wife and I went on our honeymoon and wanted to surprise her with a surprise honeymoon adventure session. Courtney worked with me to make that dream gift for my wife a reality. Meeting and posing for a photographer for the first time can be intimidating, but with Courtney it was anything but that.

Courtney is extremely positive and helpful and made us feel very comfortable in front of the camera. She played some of our favorite songs and before we knew we were just having fun and she was catching them every second. Perhaps the best part of our session was that Courtney knew all the characteristic and peaceful places of where we were, which made our photos even more extraordinary. She kept the focus was on my wife and me. When we shared our images with friends and relatives, everyone complimented on Courtney's aesthetics and the emotion she was able to capture. I can't thank Courtney enough for exceeding all our expectations with this photo shoot!!"

NINA & JASON

"Pick her -- she's the best! Courtney is amazing! Seriously! If you're thinking about eloping you should snatch her up to capture your day. She makes the entire experience fun and relaxed plus the pictures just blew us away. I will never forget our magical time in Venice and I'm obsessed with the gorgeous photos Courtney took of us. She's so so good!"

Jami & Tim

Courtney is not only a talented photographer, but she makes you feel so comfortable even though being in front of the camera can be nerve-wracking! She did such an amazing job with our day and if I had to pick my favorite photo it would take FOREVER, because I love so many! Definitely consider her if you want adventurous and beautiful photos coupled with an amazing experience!